A president who craves praise is easy to steer, and Charles Goyette argues that’s exactly the danger facing US foreign policy right now. I’m joined by the New York Times best-selling author and Libertarian Institute writer to unpack his “mousetrapped” thesis: how Benjamin Netanyahu can use flattery, timing, and intelligence claims to nudge Donald Trump toward bigger risks in the Iran conflict.

We walk through the mechanics of influence, including a reported decoy travel maneuver and why low-confidence intelligence can still change presidential behavior when fear and ego are involved. From the narrative of an Iranian threat to the way “tough” posturing spreads through the Beltway media ecosystem, we look at how escalation becomes normalized. We also confront the dark side of public war commentary, where calls to “obliterate” a major city get airtime as if consequences are optional.

Then we bring it back to what gets ignored: leverage, accountability, and the human toll. We talk about US aid and Israel policy, political corruption allegations and market rumors, and why morale and mission clarity matter for service members living with the fallout of shifting objectives. If you care about the Israel and US relationship, Trump and Iran tensions, intelligence manipulation, and anti-intervention analysis, this is a must-hear conversation. Subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more people can find it, what part of this debate do you think the public is missing?

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